Truckers used to pulling into North Dakota's seven weigh stations could find themselves facing the scales virtually anywhere in the state under a proposal made public Friday.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol wants the state to close four of its seven weigh stations, a report from the Bismark Tribune said Dec. 6. Inspectors from the stations would then hit the roads, using portable scales to inspect trucks.

Of the 33 people who work in the four stations, all but 21 would lose their jobs, the paper said. The three remaining stations would continue to employ nine people. Highway Patrol Col. Jim Hughes said he had not decided which stations would close.

North Dakota has closed three weigh stations in recent years - in Hague, Buxton and Minot - as part of a plan to use more mobile enforcement. Another aspect of the plan is the future installation of electronic weight and motion sensors in roads.